Be Charitable this Holiday Season
November 15, 2016
Thanksgiving was originally celebrated as a day to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Most  Americans come together and celebrate with friends and loved ones. This year, think of those less fortunate, those who may not have a place to celebrate or loved ones to celebrate with on this holiday. There is always leftover food at a PartyCheap Thanksgiving, and after a few days, no one wants any more turkey sandwiches. While that food is still fresh, why not donate it to those in need? Take the time to look up your local soup kitchen or food pantry. It’s as simple as a can of soup or a boxed side. These items have a long shelf life and can feed many hungry bellies. Visit WhyHunger.org or FeedingAmerica.org to find the food pantry nearest you.
The first food bank was founded in the late 1960s in Phoenix, AZ by John van Hengel. He regularly volunteered at a local soup kitchen, and after seeing the efforts some individuals went through to get food for their families, he developed the idea of a food bank. van Hengel established a location where those in need could go to pick up donated food items. In its first year of operation, van Hengel and his team distributed more than 275,000 pounds of food. By the late 1970s, there were food banks in 18 cities nationwide. Today, there are more than 200 food banks across the country.
 It’s no secret that food waste happens, but have you ever actually looked at the numbers? It is estimated that food waste amounts to 70 billion pounds per year in the United States. This includes an estimated 200 million pounds of turkey at Thanksgiving and another 4 million meals at Christmas. All put together, the amount of food waste between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day is on average three times the amount of food waste generated at equivalent time spans during the year. Do something better with all that food, find a local organization that can accept your prepared food.
This may be the season for giving, but it doesn’t have to be the only season for it. Food banks and soup kitchens are happy to accept canned food throughout the year. Make it a mission for you and your family. Once a month when you go to the grocery store, pick up a few extra canned items to bring to a shelter near you. Donating is easy and gives those less fortunate a reason to smile, and that gives us all a reason to be thankful.
Learn PartyCheap's tips and tricks for Cheap Fall Decorating Ideas. For more party theme ideas, tips, and DIYs check out the rest of the PartyCheap blogs. Happy Thanksgiving, Gobble Gobble.
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